Lost Passport or Residence Permit in Ukraine: What a Foreigner Should Do

First: don't panic, but don't delay

Losing documents abroad is unpleasant but fixable. The key is to act in the right order and meet the legal deadlines. Below is a step-by-step guide based on the Procedure for temporary residence permits (Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 322) and the Law "On Employment of the Population".

The first 3 working days: whom to notify

Under paragraph 69 of the Procedure approved by Resolution No. 322, if a passport is lost or replaced, or a residence permit is lost or stolen, the foreigner must notify the State Migration Service (SMS) in writing within three working days. If the documents were stolen, you must also report it to the National Police.

Practical tips:

• go to the police as early as possible and keep proof of your report — both your consulate and the SMS will need it;
• tell your employer: the next steps for your work permit depend on it;
• if you have photos or copies of your passport and residence card, have them ready — it speeds up identification.

If your passport is lost

Your passport is issued by your own country, so a new passport or an emergency travel document is issued by your country's embassy or consulate. If there is none in Ukraine, find out which consular office serves your citizens (it is often in a neighbouring country). The consulate sets its own timelines and document list, so check with it directly.

Once you have a new passport, two more steps follow:

1. Check your residence permit. A permit is exchanged, among other cases, when the information entered in it changes (para. 7 of the Procedure). Ask the SMS whether an exchange is needed in your case. If it is, documents are filed within one month of the event (para. 18).
2. Amend the work permit. A new passport is a ground for amending the work permit. The employer applies to the regional employment centre no later than 30 days after the change (Art. 42-5 of the Law "On Employment of the Population"). The decision is made within three working days (Art. 42-6).

If your residence permit is lost

Under paragraph 6 of the Procedure, a lost or stolen permit is replaced by a new one under the exchange procedure. You file (para. 39):

• a valid passport — so if your passport is lost too, replace it first;
• a certified Ukrainian translation of the passport's personal-data page;
• proof of payment of the administrative fee (or of exemption from it);
• a document showing your taxpayer registration number (if you have one);
• an extract from the territorial community register (if you have one).

Documents are filed with a regional SMS office or unit, a state enterprise under the SMS, or an administrative services centre (TsNAP) at your place of residence. The administrative fee is set by law and may change — check the current amount before applying. The permit is issued within 15 working days of accepting the documents (para. 5).

Important: if you find the lost permit after applying for a new one, you must return it to the SMS within one day (para. 70). A lost permit is treated as invalid — you cannot keep using it.

Why you shouldn't put it off

Staying without valid documents creates risks: problems during checks, difficulties with your bank and job, and administrative liability for breaching the rules of stay (Art. 203 of the Code of Administrative Offences). If the permit has already expired, things get more complicated — see what to do if a work permit or TRC has expired.

Reduce the damage in advance

1. Keep colour scans of your passport, residence card and work permit in secure cloud storage;
2. Don't carry all the originals together unless you need to;
3. Save the contacts of your consulate and your employer;
4. Keep a calendar of document deadlines — read about renewals in our guide to the residence permit in Ukraine.

How ASHA Ukraine helps

ASHA Ukraine helps with document renewal and re-issue and with the temporary residence permit (TRC): we'll walk you through the steps, help prepare the documents and coordinate with your employer. If your job is changing too, see our article on changing employer with a work permit.

Sources: Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 322 of 25.04.2018 (paras. 5, 6, 7, 18, 39, 69, 70; as amended 10.05.2026); Law of Ukraine "On Employment of the Population", Arts. 42-5, 42-6. Checked as of 17.10.2026; confirm the details of your situation with the SMS or a lawyer.